Power system for automatic switches.



F. R. MGBERTY.

POWER SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATIC SWITCHES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.21, 1913.

1,126,804. Patented Feb. 2, 1915.

2 BEBE HEET 1.

Wi/nesses: N Muen/or: @224 4372, Fran/r R M56//) W yOWM/Ij/ THE NORRISPETERS Co PHOTOVLITHOH WASHING m" E P. R. MGBERTY.

POWER SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATIC SWITCHES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 21, 1913.

WW y WW n45 Numeu, PTER (o PMUVOL/THO wAsnlNnroN D c UNITE STATES PATENT FOE.

FRANK ROBERT McBERT-Y, OF ANTWERP, BELGIUM, ASSIGNOR TO WESTERN ELECTRICCOMPANY, OF NEVI YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

POVJER SYSTEYM FOR AUTOMATIC SVIITCHES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

PatentedFeb. 2, 1915.

Application filed August 21, 1913. Serial 110. 785,871.

To all "whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRANK RoBER'r Mc- BERTY,a citizen of the United States, re-

- siding at 49 Boulevard Leopold, Antwerp,

Belgium, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in PowerSystems for Automatic Switches, of which the following is a full, clear,concise, and exact description.

This invention relates to telephone exchange systems employingpower-driven automatic switches, and particularly to systems of thecharacter in which the lines are divided into groups, each group beingserved by a plurality of switches to each of which the lines of thegroup are multiplied, the several switches being provided with clutchesby means of which they are coupled to and uncoupled from the drivingshaft.

There are certain periods of time in telephone exchanges when the amountof traffic diminishes to a point where but a portion of the switches ofeach group is necessar to handle the calls thereof, as for example attimes during the night.

One of the features of this invention therefore is to provide a switchdriving arrangement wherein a portion of the switches of any or all thegroups may be readilv and conveniently rendered inoperative, the callsbeing then concentrated on but a portion of the normal number ofswitches.

A further feature of the invention is to reduce the liability of thesubscribers of any given group or of the exchange being entirely withoutservice due to derangement of the power mechanism.

To these ends the invention contemplates an improved switch drivingarrangement wherein some of the switches of each group are driven fromone power shaft and the others from another but equivalent power shaftthese shafts being driven from entirely independent sources of power.

In the form of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings theswitches are arranged in vertical bays, each bav containing theterminals of a group of lines multipled to the switches by verticalcabling. The switches indicated are of the type described in Britishspecification No. 16,151 of 1912 but it will of course be understoodthat the invention is not limited to systems using this type of switchwholly or in part. According to the arrangement shown, drivshafts arelocated between the bays. each succeeding shaft being driven by adifferent power source and a portion of the group of switches locatedbetween any two shafts being driven from one of said shafts and theremainder from the other.

in the drawings, Figures 1 and 1 together represent banks of switches,and the lines indicating the frame members and shafts which terminate atthe bottom of Fig. 1 are continued at the top of Fig. 1

Referring to the drawings, 11 and 12 designate horizontal members of ametallic framework and 13, 14 the vertical members thereof. Each pair ofvertical members 13, 14 forms a support for a group of automaticswitches, the frames 15 of the switches being secured by screws 16 tothe vertical members 13, 14.

Only enough of the switch structure is shown herein to give a clear ideaof the mode of operation thereof. The spindle of the switch isdesignated 17 and has attached to its lower end an elastically mountedmetallic disk 18 which serves to complete the magnetic circuit of amagnet 19 of which a portion of the shaft 20 having bearings 21, 22, inthe frame of the switch, forms the core. A disk 23 of magnetizablematerial rotates with the shaft 20; the magnet 1Q, however, isstationary. Each vertical series or group of switches 24, 25, 26, etc.may be called a bay, each bay as 25 being located between two drivingshafts 30, 31 having hearings in the horizontal members 11, 12. Eachalternate driving shaft as 29, 31, 33 has a gear wheel 36, 38, 40 at itsupper end meshing with a gear wheel 42, 44, 46 etc. respectively of ashaft 48 arranged at right angles thereto, above the framework, and eachalternate shaft 30, 32, 34, etc. has a gear wheel 35, 39, 41 at itslower end meshing with a gear wheel 43, 45, 47, etc., re spectively of ashaft 49 arranged at right angles to said shaft below the framework. Theshafts 48, 49 are driven from different sources of power; for exampleeach may be driven by an electric motor.

Fixed to one end of the shaft 20 of each of the automatic switches is agear wheel such as 51, the gear wheels 51, 53, of a1- ternate switchesof the bay 25 for example being driven from the shaft 31 and the gearwheels 52, 541-, 58 of the remaining switches of the bay 25 being drivenfrom the shaft 30. It will be noted that the gear wheels of everyalternate pair of switches located in adjacent levels, as 57, 58, 59,are driven from the same gears, as 60, 61, 62.

It will be observed that the driving disks 23 of the switches of thefirst, third and fifth bays are located on their shafts 20 to the rightof the driving magnets 19 while the driving dislrs 23 of the second,fourth and sixth are located on the left hand side of the drivingmagnets. This is for the purpose of having all the brush carriagesrotate in the same direction.

The terminals 65 of the bays are multiplied in accordance with a systemknown as vertical cabling, fully described in British Patent No. 16868of 1911. The multiplying of the first bay only is shown in full. Eachbay as shown contains six finder switches multiplied according to thismethod, each switch containing sixty fixed sets of three terminals eacharranged in three rows of twenty each. These bays are made up in units,each consisting of six selector switch frames 66 carrying the fixed lineterminals 65 and the banks of insulation wherein they are embedded, andthe multiple cabling. These units are attached by screws (not shown) tothe rear of the vertical members 13, 14. The moving parts of each switchand the actuating parts thereof consisting of the brush carriage 68, thedriving magnet 19 and the shaft 20 are mounted upon the frames 15.

From what has been said it is apparent that by virtue of this inventiona portion of the switches of a structure made up in unit form, each unitserving a particular line group may be rendered inoperative withoutmodifying in any way the unit, and also that the likelihood of any groupof subscribers being entirely without service due to derangement of thepower mechanism is greatly reduced.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my saidinvention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare thatwhat I claim is 1. In a telephone exchange system, the combination witha plurality of lines divided into groups, of a group of automaticswitches for each line group, different sources of power, and means fordriving al ternate switches of each group from dilferent sources.

2. In a telephone exchange system, the combination with a plurality oflines divided into groups, of automatic selector switches for each linegroup to which such lines are multiplied, shafts driven from differentsources of power arranged in operative relation to each group, and meansfor coupling alternate switches serving any line group to differentshafts.

3. In a telephone exchange system, the combination with a plurality oflines arranged in groups, of a row of automatic selector switches foreach line group to which such lines are multiplied, a driving snaftbetween each row or bay of switches, two power shafts driven fromdifferent sources, the switches located in a given bay being locatedbetween shafts driven one from each of said power shafts, and some ofthe switches thereof being driven from one shaft and some from theother.

4. In a telephone exchange system, the combination with a plurality oflines arranged in groups, of a vertical row of automatic selectorswitches for each line group to which such lines are multiplied, adriving shaft between each vertical row of switches, two main powershafts driven from different sources, the switches located in a givenvertical row being located between shafts driven one from each of saidpower shafts, gears on said driving shafts, pairs of switches incorresponding levels in adjacent bays being driven from the same gear.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 24th day of JulyA. D., 1913.

FRANK ROBERT MCBERTY.

Witnesses:

F. T. Wooownnn, I'IENRY M. DIEDERICH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

